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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A very rare gilt bronze figure of the eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, 15th Century. Standing with his multiple hands in various "mudras", clad in a voluminous flowing "dhoti" incised with lotuses, adorned with various jewelry inset with hardstones, the eleven hands arranged in tiers, each centered by a raised ums, incised with an inscription, surrounded by a ribbon aureole. The inscription on the proper right side of the aureola reads "om mani padme hum" which is the mantra of Avalokiteshvara. The inscription on the left reads "om hri pad me (?) ra hum phat", and is written backwards. Together these mantras would have been used for special purpouses, and it was not uncommon to have an image created as a auspicious act to help with removing obstacles. |